Method and apparatus for setting up yarns in a slasher



METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SETTING UP mans m A SLASHER C. H. BOYCE Oct.29. 1940.

5 sheets she et 2 Zmventor [eszi r/i fiaya'e (Zttorneg Z n f a a w M I 0a A; a w m .uh L J 8 u m H 7 m 7/" F 4 7 l 6 C. H. BOYCE Oct. 29, 1940.

Filed Jul 22', 1939 s Sheets-Sheet 3 Gttorneg' Get. 29. 1940. c. H.BOYCE 2,2 4

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SETTING UP YARNS IN A SLASHER Filed July 2,1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Zhwentor v attorney 0d; 29. 1940. c, BOYCE2,219,804

IETHOD AND APPARATUS FUR SETTING U P YARS In A SLASHBR Filed July 22,1359 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Sumter attorney Patented Oct. 29, 1940 METHOD ANDAPPARATUS FOR SETTING UP YARNS IN A SLASHER Chester H. Boyce,Blackstone, Mass., assignorto Lonsdale Company, Providence, R. I., a. cop ration of Rhode Island Application July 22, 1939, Serial No. 285,901

This invention relates to improvements in methods and apparatus forsetting up yams in a slasher. More particularly it provides that themultiplicity of yarn ends from a number of filled beams (which yarns areto be drawn through the slasher in the form of a flat sheet called thewarp) may be preliminarily counted-in and properly grouped in the dentsof an improved type of comb which, during the setting up process, can-be drawn with the new yarns through the slasher and then upon reachingthe regular comb loca tion be quickly and easily secured removably inoperative position.

Slashers of the-general type to which the invention relates ordinarilycomprise a stretcher frame, a vat for holding sizing liquid,dryingcylinders, separating rods, a comb, and a warp beam on which thefinished'warp is wound. A supply creel, behind the slasher, holds aplurality of beams from which the yarns are drawn to make up the warp.

It has heretofore been proposed, as disclosed in United States LettersPatent No. 2,036,744'

granted April 7, 1936, to Kenneth B. Cook, to precount the yarns from asupply creel preparatory to feeding such yarns through the slasher. Tothis end the aforesaid patent discloses a counting-in frame having acounting-in comb with upstanding pins providing dents. The patentdescribes how the new yarns are counted into sheaths which aretemporarily placed in these dents and at the same time a lease is takenof the separate sheaths. This involves placing a lease string across thewarp to maintain the alignment and division of the new sheaths duringthe subsequent pulling of the yarns through the slasher so that when thenew yarns reach the operating comb mounted on the slasher thepredetermined sheath for each dent may be easily selected and placed inits proper dent. After such lease is taken during the pre-counting-in onthe counting-in frame, the yarns are removed from the counting-in comband tied together in several groups, which in turn are tied to similar.groups of the yarns that make up the warp which has has to do withproviding an im- I latter is drawn through the slasher. This drawing ofthe filled comb through the slasher is a feature of my improvements inthat it not only greatly shortens the time consumed in actually changingover the slasher from an old to a new' 5 warp, but it affords a materialsaving in theyarn that has heretofore been wasted during the course ofmaking this transfer. Thus it is a principal object of the invention toreduce the time that a slasher must stand idle, while it is 1 being setup for a new warp, by providingfor a precounting-in of the new yarnswithin a comb which can be drawn with the yarns through the slasher, andwhich, upon its arrival at the regular comb position, can serve as theregular operating comb during the normal operation of the slasher.

Among the other objects of my improvements is the provision, as has beensuggested, of an improved counting-in frame having means for term 20porarily holding my novel comb thereon while the counting-in takesplace. Also I provide on the counting-in frame means for drawing theyarns from the beams and maintaining them in the same relation they willhave while running 25 through the slasher.

Another object is to provide an improved comb which is adapted to passthrough a slasher without damage to itself or to the slasher, and whichis interchangeable between its counting-in si- 30 tion on thecounting-in frame and its position as. the operating comb on theslasher.

A further object is to provide means for hold-, ing the counted-insheaths in the comb while both are being drawn through the slasher.

Still another object is to provide improved means for mounting andadjusting the comb at the regular operating comb position on theslasher.

And a still further object is to provide spacers 40 for thecomb tomaintain its convolutions in proper position with respect, to oneanother and prevent. any pinching or binding on the yarns as they passthrough the dents;

It is, moreover, an important featurethat ;con-" .siderable savings inyarn, sizing,,and-;starch may i be effected by my new method as comparedwith 'what has been usual and customary heretofore.=-

. These several objects and resultsv may be at,- tained by providing twointerchangeable combs, either of, which can function astheoperating,comb on the slasher while the other is in use on. the counting einframe for a prewounting-in of the yarns from fresh beams on a sparecreel. Each comb is preferably made of relatively stiff v and strongmaterial wound in convolute form.

Means at each end facilitate the removable mounting of the comb both onthe counting-in frame and on the slasher. The convolute or spiralarrangement of the comb permits it to be drawn with its sheaths of yarnsthrough the slasher to its operating position on the head frame. Thusthe same comb serves first on the counting-in frame for thepre-counting-in of the yarns and then serves as the operating comb onthe slasher for the new warp. Whenthe comb reaches its operatingposition it need only be set in a support which will have been vacatedby a similar comb which functioned with the outgoing warp.

Retaining means can conveniently be placed within the convolutions ofthe comb to retain the sheaths within the dents while the comb is fedthrough the slasher and mounted in operating position, after whichthese-retaining means may be removed leaving the sheaths still in thedents. And adjustable means on the comb support at the regular combposition combines with the convolute structure of the comb to facilitateadjustment of the width of dents to suit particular requirements.Spacers on the comb maintain the proper spaces between convolutions ofthe'comb and prevent the yarns from being pinched as they pass throughthe dents.

The best modes in which I have contemplated applying the principles ofmy invention are shown in the accompanying drawings but these are to bedeemed merely illustrative for it is intended that the patent shallcover by suitable expression in the appended claims, whatever featuresof patentable novelty exist in the invention'disclosed.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure l is a diagrammatic side elevation of apparatus of the generaltype to which the invention relates, comprising, from left to right, aloaded creel of beams of yarn, a stretcher frame, a sizing vat, dryingcylinders, and a head frame carrying separating rods, the comb guide andtension rolls and the'warp beam on which the finished warp is wound. Inthis figure my improved comb is indicated by dotted lines in variouspositions along its course of travel from where it leaves thecounting-in frame to its final full line position near the warp beam;

Figure 2 is a top plan of the apparatus of Figure 1, but showing also aspare creel of fresh beams associated with my improved counting-in framewhich has one of my improved combs mounted thereon;

Figure 3 is a side elevation, on an enlarged scale, of my improvedcounting-in frame;

Figure 4 is a top plan of the counting-in frame, the sheet of yarnsbeing omitted;

Figure 5 is a perspective of my improved comb, the mid-portion thereofbeing broken away;

Figure 6 is a perspective of one of the spacers may be employed one ateach end of the retaining members shown in Figures 7 and 8;

Figure 11 is a side elevation of a comb with the yarn retaining membersand spring clips as-,

sembled therewith, mid-portions of the comb and the members being brokenaway;

Figure 12 illustrates an apron which may be tied about the comb duringits travel through the slasher;

Figure 13 is a perspective illustrating the manner of mounting,securing, and adjusting one end of the improved comb on its support onthe head frame shown in Figures 14 and 15;

Figure 14 is a top plan of the head frame of the slasher with myimproved comb mounted thereon; and

Figure 15 is a side elevation of the same frame.

Referring to the drawings, the apparatus illustrated in Figures 1 and 2may be regarded as representative of apparatus such as a slasher or awarper generally used for treatment of warp yarns. A creel ID ,hasrotatably mounted thereon several beams I2 each of which has numerousyarns wound thereon. These yarns from the several beams eventually leavethe creel in a flat sheet-like form termed a warp which continuesthroughout the slasher being indicated by a line marked with thereference numeral l4.

This warp is drawn over and under the usual rolls of a stretcher frameIt, and thence through sizing liquid in a vat l8 provided with a guideroll 20 from which the warp is drawn downward into the sizing liquid andaround the under side of a submerged roll 22. From the latter, the warppasses between suitable pairs of squeezing rolls 24 and thence to thesurface of a large drying cylinder 26. From this large cylinder the warppasses to the surface of a smaller drying cylinder 28 and thence forwardnear the bottom of the cylinder frame 29 to a guide roll 30 on the headframe 3|. The warp then travels upward around another guide roll 32whence it moves forward in a generally horizontal direction pastseparating rods 33, through the comb C, under a particular guide roll 35and thence past other guide and tension rolls 36 and finally is wound ona warp beam 31.

Prior to the advent of the methods disclosed by Cook in his Patent No.2,036,744, previously mentioned, it was necessary when introducing a newwarp to the slasher to tie groups of its yarns to similar groups of thewarp just being finished so that the new warp would be drawn through theslasher by the outgoing warp. Also it involved a tedious andtime-consuming operation of counting-in the yarns into the ordinary combpermanently mounted on the head frame. This latter was avoided by Cookwho provided for precounting-in on a separate counting-in comb beforethe fresh beams of yarn are moved to a position behind the slasher andwhile the slasher is operating with another warp; However, in the Cookmethod, since the pre-counting-in is performed with a separatecounting-in comb mounted on his counting-in frame, the yarns must againbe separated as determined by his lease string and placed in the dentsof the operating The present invention goes beyond these prior practicesby providing that the pre-counting-in of yarns is effected with the samecomb which will function with the new yams in the slasher, the combbeing adapted to be drawn with the new yarns through the slasher to itsoperating position.

Figure 2 shows a spare creel l8 beside the creel H) which is inoperative relation to the slasher.

Each creel is movable on tracks H to differentsides of the slasher sothat either may be the spare while the other is in operating position. Acounting-in frame 38 is mounted on casters 39 and may be moved readilyfromone side to the other of the regular creel position, for associationwith whichever creel at the time constitutes the spare. Referring moreparticularly to Figures 3 and 4, the counting-in frame 88 is usuallypositioned in front of the spare creel and is properly aligned therewithby the removable aligning bars 40, one at each side, engaging in sidebrackets 42, 44 on the counting-in frame and in bracket 46 on the creel.According to the invention, one of my improved combs CI, similar to combC at the forward end of theslasher, is removably mounted on theuppermost forward portion of the frame 38 and extends from side to sideacross it.

.The comb C (and C I) comprises a helically wound strip of strongrelatively stifl' resilient material, preferably metal, formed at eachend with a loop 48. (See Figure 5.) Spacing clips 58 (Figures 5 and 6)are adapted to be fitted over the under portions of alternateconvolutions of the comb, to keep the convolutions in proper alignmentwhen in operating position and thus prevent any pinchingof yarns withinthe dents when the comb may be set for reduction of breadth of the warpas it approaches the warp beam from the drying cylinders. When the warpyarns are being counted-in the comb Cl rests in a troughlike support 52mounted on the counting-4n frame 38, and is held there by means of theend loops '48 which engage around upstanding pins 54, one

at each end of the support 52.

In Figure 3, the yarns from the beams l2 of the spare creel I8 form asheet-like warp indicated by the line marked l4. These yarns extend overguide roll 58 mounted on the creel and thence over the counting-in frameto the small roll 58 which is swingable between operative andinoperative positions. In Figure 3, roll 58 is in operative positionholding the sheet of yarns out of comb Cl. From roll 58 the yarns passover guide roll 88 and thence to a draw roll or beam 82. A gear 64 onshaft 66 of beam 62 meshes with a gear 88 on shaft 18 which latter maybe rotated by handle 12 to wind the yarns on the beam. Ratchet mechanism14, 18 prevents anticlockwise rotation of the beam. Racks 18 at the rearend of the counting-in frame hold numerous separating rods 19, only oneof which is shown. When yarns are taken from the creel, guide stringsare put in between yarns from different beams to tell where to put theseparating rods' 'l8 used on the counting-in frame. By means of suchrods the operator is aided in his selection of the yarn ends making upeach sheath to be placed in a dent of the comb. The provision fordrawing the yarns from the spare creel to the draw beam 82 enables thewarp to be formed'on the counting-in frame just as it willbe operatedupon during its travel through the slasher.

After the yarns from the respective beams are connected to the draw beam62, as in Figure 3, theroll 58 may be swung out of yarn supportingposition to its inoperative position 58' (shown dotted) permitting theyarns to fall promiscuouswarp. The operator now inserts the .separating-ly into the dents of the comb. The yarns are then counted-in, afterwhich the rods 18 are removed and, if desired, other guide strings maybe inserted which will subsequently be replaced by the separating rods83 used on the head frame. 8

. Counting-in involves a counting of the yams into sheaths in accordancewith a predetermined design and the placing of each sheath in its properdent of the comb. After all the yarns in the warp have been thuscounted-in the yarns are temporarily retained in the dents of the combby retaining members 88 and 8|. One member (88) is passed through theconvolutions of the comb under the yarns and the other member (8|) islikewise passed through the convolutions of the comb above the yarns,the two members for the moment being engaged by means of holes 88a andMa with the posts 54 on the support 52. Upon the comb and retainingmembers being lifted from the support 52, clips 82 are applied to theends of the retaining members, the pin 83 of a clip passing through theholes in the retaining members and through the loop 48at the end of thecomb, as shown in Figure 11.

An apron 84 (Figure 12), of any suitable flexible and protectivematerial, may then be wrapped about the comb and at least arounditslower portion to prevent its marring the rolls and cylinders as itpasses through the slasher.

Assuming that the beams l2 on creel II) have become exhausted theslasher will be stopped and the yarns of the outgoing warp will be cutclear of the beams l2. Their ends will be tied together in groups. Theexhausted creel I8 is now pushed along tracks I l in direction away fromthe slasher and the new filled creel I 8', together with the counting-inframe, is pushed to operative position behind the slasher. The yarns ofthe new warp are now out between guide roll 68 and the take-up beam 62and tied into groups corresponding to the tied-up groups of the oldwarp, and these corresponding groups of the two warps are tied together.The guide roll 56 and its supports 51 are removed from creel l0 andplaced on creel l0 preparatory to the next pre-counting-in. The aligningbars 48 are disengaged from brackets 48 and the counting-in frame movedfrom between creel l8 and the slasher into position in front of creell8. As the counting-in frame is moved away from behind the slasher, thecomb Cl is suspended by the yarns and is ready for its travel throughthe slasher to its operating position.

The rolls of the stretch control frame l8 and the immersed roll 22 andtop rolls of the squeeze rolls 24 are lifted so that the comb may be fedpast the stretch control frame and the vat l8. During this setting upprocedure, the separating rods 33 of the head frame 38 will have beenremoved before the tied ends of yarns reach the frame, and the comb (C)used with the previous warp is also removed and can beused on thecounting-in frame during the next or succeeding counting-in of anotherwarp.

The comb Cl travels with the new yarns as they are pulled through theslasehr, various momentary positions of the comb being indicated indotted outlines marked C. When the travelling comb. reaches theoperating position the slasher will be stopped momentarily by the.operator while the apron 84, the spring clips 82, and the retainingmembers 88 and 8| are removed, after which the comb' Cl is mounted inthe place of the comb C which served for the outgoing rods 88 betweenthe yarns, returns immersed roll 22 to its place in vat I0, and the topsqueeze rolls 24 are lowered to their operating position. The regularslasher treatment can now proceed as soon as the unsized portion of ,thenew yarns is run off and the sized yarns are attached to a new emptywarp beam 31.

The particular means illustrated for mounting the comb in operatingposition comprises a trough-like support 80 (similar to support 52 onthe counting-in frame 88) which is mounted on angle iron bars 81 and 88which are movably mounted so as to be moved together transversely of thehead frame. The two bars are secured together by cross blocks 89 to 89'to one of which (88') a threaded shaft 80 is rotatably attached andextends through a nut (not shown) mounted 'in the head frame. This nutis not rotatable and.

accordingly as the shaft 80 is rotated by means of gears 9|, shaft82'and'hand wheel 83, the angle iron bars 81 and 88, the support 86 andthe comb C are adjusted crosswise of the head frame to any desiredlocation.

Instead of pins engaging .the loops 48 of the comb as on the counting-inframe, I provide plates 94, 94' with pivoted link retainers for each endof the comb. The plate 94' near the rotatable shaft 90 is fixed to theangled iron bars 81 and 88, but the plate 94 at the opposite end ofsupport 86 is slidably mounted on these bars. This plate 94 may be movedrelatively to the angle irons by means of a threaded shaft 96 whichcoacts with a threaded nut (not shown) attached to the under side ofplate 94, and extends through the frame to gears 88. These may berotated by the shaft I00 and hand wheel I02. Each comb retain- -ercomprised a pivoted link I 04 with offset midportion I06 for reachingdeep into a dent of the comb. One end of the link I04 is pivoted at I08on a vertically adjustable post I I0, and the other end is pivotallyconnected to a latch link II2 whose offset free end can engage over theedge of plate 94 to hold the link in retaining relation to the comb.Thus the comb as a whole may be readily moved crosswise of the headframe or it may itself be adjusted to vary its own length to accommodatedifferent widths of warp.

Just beyond-the comb C in the direction of travel of the yarns is theroll 35. The yarns leaving the comb pass under this roll and are therebyheld in the dents'as they travel past the comb.

Beyond this roll 35 are the usual guide and tension rolls, generallydenoted by the reference numeral 36, which lead the yarns under propertension to the wind-up beam 31.

Attention is again directed to the novel method of counting-in thesheaths of yarn in the comb which is to serve as the operating comb onthe slasher. This feature enables a considerable saving of time, sizing,starch and the yarns themselves.

Although I have described th application of my improvements to aslasher, it is of course within the scope of my invention to employ themon a warper or any other yarn-handling machine employing a comb whichcan be drawn through the machine with the yarns to its operatingposition.

I claim:

1. The method of setting up yarns in a slasher for operation on a newwarp, comprising drawoperating comb for the new warp and which temciatedwith the said spare creel; temporarily retaining the counted-in sheathsof yarns in the dents of the comb; placing the creel and count- -ing-inframe in operative position behind the slasher; removing the comb fromthe counting-in frame; drawing the comb, with the sheaths of yarnsheldtherein, through the slasher to its operating position; mounting thecomb, with the sheath of yarns therein in operative association with theslasher; and removing the sheath retaining means-from the comb.

2. The method of setting up yarns in a slasher for operation on a newwarp, comprising precounting yarns. supplied from beams mounted on aspare creel apart from the slasher, into a comb removably mounted on acounting-in frame; temporarily retaining the counted-in yarns in thedents of said comb; removing said comb with the yarns retained thereinfrom the counting-in frame; drawing the comb with the sheaths of yarnsretained therein through the slasher; mounting said comb with thesheaths of yarns therein in operative association with the slasher; andremoving the temporary yarn retaining means from said comb.

3. The method of setting. up yarns in a slasher for operation on a newwarp, comprising the precounting-in of the yarns of said warp into thedents of a comb; temporarily retaining said yarns in the comb; movingthe comb with said yarns through the slasher to the operating positionof said comb; and mounting the comb in operating position on theslasher; and releasing said yarns from said comb leaving the yarns freeto move through the dents of the comb.

4. Apparatus for use in setting up yarns in a slasher, comprising a combadapted to be mounted on a counting-in frame and adapted also to bemounted at the operating position of the comb on the slasher; acounting-in frame; means for removably securing the comb on thecounting-in frame; removable means for temporarily retaining counted-insheaths of yarns in their respective dents of the comb; and means forremovably and adjustably mounting the said comb, with its counted-insheaths of yarn, in the operating position of the comb on the slasher.

5. Apparatus for use in setting up yarns in a slasher, comprising a combadapted to be mounted on a counting-in frame and adapted also to bemounted at the operating position of the bomb on the slasher; means forremovably and adjust ably mounting the comb in the operating position onthe slasher, comprising a Support movable across the slasher at saidoperating position; a plate slidably mounted on the said support andmovable in direction along the support; a pivoted link retainer on saidplate swingable over an end portion of said comb between adjacentconvolutions thereof and adapted to be secured in re- -taining relationto the comb; means for adjusting the plate along the support forregulating the spacing of convolutions of the comb; and means for movingsaid support and said comb transversely of the slasher.

6. That method of sizing yarn in a slasher which comprises inserting acomb in the leading end of a warp about to be passed through theslasher, securing the said leading end to the trailing end of the warpwhich is being passed through the slasher, passing the warps and thecomb a substantial portion of the distance through the slasher, securingthe comb to the slasher, separating the two warps and then passing thewarp having the stationary comb thereinthrough the slasher.

7. That method of sizing yarn in a slasher provided with dryingcylinder, size box, lease rods, and a take-up'beam, which comprisespassing a sheet of warp through the slashing machine and upon thetrailing end of the warp becoming exposed, securing the leading and ofanother set of warp threads to the trailing ends of the warp about to beexhausted, placing a comb in the leading end of the warp about to bepassed through the slasher, passingthe comb and the warp through theslasher to a point adjacent the normal position of the lease rods, afterthe lease rods have been removed, then securing the comb to the slasherframe, then imparting rotation to the take-up beams and to the dryingcylinders to advance the warp to a point where the junction pointbetween the two warps is adjacent the take up beam, separating the warpon the take up beam from the warp disposed in the slasher, placing a newtake up beam in the slasher, and securing the warp which is disposed inthe slasher to the new take up beam and then passing the warp throng theslasher.

8. That method of manipulating warp threads while they are being passedthrough a slasher which comprises arranging a plurality of warp beams asa unit, placing a comb, in the exposed ends of the warp on said beams,securing the leading warp ends of the warp of said unit to the trailingwarp ends passing through the slasher, then passing the warp from thewarp beams of said unit through the slasher with the comb therein andafter the comb has been passed substantially through the slasher,securing the comb to the slasher for passage of the warp threads.

CHESTER H. BOYCE. 20

